Essential Quick-Guide for Adventurous Female Backpackers in Colombia: Navigate the Chaos, Embrace the Magic
Essential quick-guide for adventurous female backpackers in Colombia. 6 honest tips on safety, transport, accommodation, and choosing locations.
Essential Quick-Guide for Adventurous Female Backpackers in Colombia: Navigate the Chaos, Embrace the Magic
Essential quick-guide for adventurous female backpackers in Colombia. 6 honest tips on safety, transport, accommodation, and choosing locations.
28/09/2025 • 4 min read
Colombia is raw. It’s vibrant, unpredictable, and at times challenging. From the misty mountains of Salento to the colonial streets of Cartagena, this country demands awareness, curiosity, and adaptability. I spent three weeks backpacking Colombia in February 2024, and while it wasn’t always easy, it left me with stories I’ll carry for years.
This guide provide 6 quick tips, based on first hand experience, and are for all adventurous female backpackers seeking honesty, practicality, and a little magic.
Table of Contents
Click on the topic of interest for faster navigation:
1. Safety Is a Strategy
Colombia does demand awareness.
Key Lessons:
Daylight isn’t always safe: Some of my worst experiences happened before noon, including petty theft in Bogotá and Santa Marta.
Trust verified transport: Use Uber or registered taxis, especially at night. Avoid standing outside waiting for rides.
Neighborhoods matter more than reviews: Tourist zones aren’t automatically safe. Paying a bit more for a secure area is worth it.
Gut instincts over hype: If a street or situation feels wrong, leave. Your intuition is your best guide.
2. Choose Your Destinations Wisely
Colombia can overwhelm if you try to see everything. The right mix of cities and small towns makes the trip more manageable. Personally I enjoyed the small mountain and jungle towns more than the big citites.
Bogotá (2–3 days)
Highlights: La Candelaria street art & Monserrate views.
Lessons Learned:
Limit your stay to avoid stress. I wouldn’t stay more than 2–3 days.
Touristy neighbourhoods doesn't mean safety. Stay alert.
Salento (3–4 days)
Highlights: Cocora Valley hike, coffee farms, Calle Real.
Lessons Learned:
Small towns give you space to breathe; Salento is perfect for that.
Book local tours through hostels or plazas to get authentic experiences.
You can do the Cocora Valley hike by yourself.
Jardín (2–3 days)
Highlights: Cable car, Cueva del Esplendor, Plaza Principal.
Lessons Learned:
Less touristy means more authentic pace; it’s ideal to recharge between busier stops.
Walking or short hikes in the area gives perspective on mountain life.
Medellín (3–4 days)
Highlights: Comuna 13 tour, Metrocable, nightlife.
Lessons Learned:
Avoid going out alone at night in unfamiliar areas. Stick with groups or guided tours.
Budget mid-range accommodation near central areas increases safety and ease of transport.
Minca (1–3 days)
Highlights: Waterfalls, jungle views, hammocks.
Lessons Learned:
Skip Santa Marta if you want a calmer experience; Minca offers the same nature, less stress.
Spending multiple days allows for slow mornings and proper hikes.
Cartagena (4–5 days)
Highlights: Walled City, Castillo San Felipe, Rosario Islands, Café del Mar.
Lessons Learned:
Give yourself extra days; rushing misses the Caribbean vibe.
3. Adapt Your Itinerary
Key Lessons:
Don’t try to see everything — focus on regions.
Be flexible; some places deserve more time, others less. Next time I would skip Santa Marta and/or Cali and Bogotá.
Be up to date with the latest local news about safety.
Reworked itinerary example:
Bogotá →
Salento →
Jardín →
Medellín →
Minca →
Cartagena.
4. Budgeting for Comfort and Safety
Colombia is marketed as cheap, but savings sometimes come at a cost.
Lessons Learned:
Daily budget of $55–65 USD is realistic for modest choices including hostels, meals, and transport.
Menu del día is a solid option and affordable, but repetitive.
Don’t sacrifice safety for low-cost transport; flights are often safer than long buses.
It makes a different if you're there in high-season or shoulder-season.
Read more
Maximise your Adventure: Complete Budget Breakdown of 18 Days Backpacking in Colombia
5. Transport Can Be Challenging
To keep backpacking budget friendly, we often found ourselves traveling by bus around the different countries. We used same logic when it finally came to Colombia. However, that wouldn't be my approach another time in Colombia. Here is why.
Key Lessons:
Long-distance buses are common but can be exhausting and tense (roadblocks, rural checkpoints).
Flights are safer and save time; consider them for longer legs.
Plan connections carefully; some routes require multiple transfers.
If you want to see the full itinerary, what I would skip next time, and how to get around:
6. Culture Is Rich, but You Need Awareness
Colombia is full of color, music, and generosity, but being aware of social norms and boundaries is essential.
Lessons Learned:
Street vendors are persistent; carry small bills and stay alert.
Social media hype doesn’t always match reality. Some towns feel safer or more welcoming than expected.
This was a brief, quick-guide, of Colombia. In the following article you can have the more in-dept information:
Final Reflections
Colombia challenged me more than any other country I visited in South America. It demanded alertness, patience, and adaptability. But it also rewarded curiosity and courage.
Backpacking here is less about checking off sights and more about understanding how you react under pressure. Learn from each town, pace yourself, and trust your instincts. With the right planning and awareness, Colombia can be as magical as it is chaotic.
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